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    Six microlensing planets detected via sub-day signals during the 2023–2024 season
    (EDP Sciences on behalf of The European Southern Observatory (Ulis, France), 2025-10) Han C; Lee C-U; Udalski A; Bond IA; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Gould A; Jung YK; Hwang K-H; Ryu Y-H; Shvartzvald Y; Shin I-G; Yee JC; Zang W; Yang H; Cha S-M; Kim D; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Mróz P; Szymański MK; Skowron J; Poleski R; Soszyński I; Pietrukowicz P; Kozłowski S; Rybicki KA; Iwanek P; Ulaczyk K; Wrona M; Gromadzki M; Mróz MJ; Jaroszyński M; Kiraga M; Abe F; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fukui A; Hamada R; Silva SI; Hirao Y; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Nagai T; Nunota K; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Terry SK; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H
    Aims. We present analyses of six microlensing events: KMT-2023-BLG-0548, KMT-2023-BLG-0830, KMT-2023-BLG-0949, KMT-2024-BLG-1281, KMT-2024-BLG-2059, and KMT-2024-BLG-2242. These were identified in KMTNet data from the 2023–2024 seasons, selected for exhibiting anomalies shorter than one day – potential signatures of low-mass planetary companions. Motivated by this, we conducted detailed investigations to characterize the nature of the observed perturbations. Methods. Detailed modeling of the light curves reveals that the anomalies in all six events are caused by planetary companions to the lenses. The brief durations of the anomalies are attributed to various factors: a low planet-to-host mass ratio (KMT-2024-BLG-2059, KMT-2024-BLG-2242), a wide planet-host separation (KMT-2023-BLG-0548), small and elongated caustics restricting the source’s interaction region (KMT-2023-BLG-0830, KMT-2024-BLG-1281), and a partial caustic crossing (KMT-2023-BLG-0949). Results. We estimated the physical parameters of the lens systems using Bayesian analysis. For KMT-2023-BLG-0548, the posterior distribution of the lens mass shows two distinct peaks: a low-mass solution indicating a sub-Jovian planet orbiting an M dwarf in the Galactic disk, and a high-mass solution suggesting a super-Jovian planet around a K-type dwarf in the bulge. KMT-2023-BLG-0830 hosts a Neptune-mass planet orbiting an M dwarf in the Galactic bulge. KMT-2023-BLG-0949 involves a super-Jovian planet orbiting a ∼0.5 M☉ host located at ∼6 kpc. KMT-2024-BLG-2059Lb is a super-Earth with a mass about seven times that of Earth, orbiting an early M dwarf of ∼0.5 M☉. KMT-2024-BLG-1281L hosts a planet slightly more massive than Neptune, orbiting an M dwarf of ∼0.3 M☉. The short timescale and small angular Einstein radius of KMT-2024-BLG-2242 suggest a ∼0.07 M☉ primary, likely a brown dwarf, with a planet of Uranus- or Neptune-like mass.
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    MOA-2022-BLG-033Lb, KMT-2023-BLG-0119Lb, and KMT-2023-BLG-1896Lb: Three low mass-ratio microlensing planets detected through dip signals
    (The European Southern Observatory (ESO), 2025-02-04) Han C; Bond IA; Jung YK; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Gould A; Hwang K-H; Lee C-U; Ryu Y-H; Shvartzvald Y; Shin I-G; Yee JC; Yang H; Zang W; Cha S-M; Kim D; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Abe F; Barry R; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hamada R; Hirao Y; Silva SI; Itow Y; Kirikawa R; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Tomoyoshi M; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H; Yamashita K
    Aims. We examined the anomalies in the light curves of the lensing events MOA-2022-BLG-033, KMT-2023-BLG-0119, and KMT- 2023-BLG-1896. These anomalies share similar traits: they occur near the peak of moderately to highly magnified events and display a distinct short-term dip feature. Methods. We conducted detailed modeling of the light curves to uncover the nature of the anomalies. This modeling revealed that all signals originated from planetary companions to the primary lens. The planet-to-host mass ratios are very low: q ∼ 7.5 × 10-5 for MOA-2022-BLG-033, q ∼ 3.6 × 10-4 for KMT-2023-BLG-0119, and q ∼ 6.9 × 10-5 for KMT-2023-BLG-1896. The anomalies occurred as the source passed through the negative deviation region behind the central caustic along the planet-host axis. The solutions are subject to a common inner-outer degeneracy, which results in varying estimations of the projected planet-host separation. For KMT-2023-BLG-1896, although the planetary scenario provides the best explanation for the anomaly, the binary companion scenario is possible. Results. We estimated the physical parameters of the planetary systems through Bayesian analyses based on the lensing observables. While the event timescale was measured for all events, the angular Einstein radius was not measured for any. Additionally, the microlens parallax was measured for MOA-2022-BLG-033. The analysis identifies MOA-2022-BLG-033L as a planetary system with an ice giant with a mass of approximately 12 times that of Earth orbiting an early M dwarf star. The companion of KMT-2023-BLG-1896L is also an ice giant, with a mass of around 16 Earth masses, orbiting a mid-K-type main-sequence star. The companion of KMT-2023-BLG- 0119L, which has a mass around that of Saturn, orbits a mid-K-type dwarf star. The lens for MOA-2022-BLG-033 is highly likely to be located in the disk, whereas for the other events the probabilities of the lens being in the disk or the bulge are roughly equal.
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    KMT-2021-BLG-1547Lb: Giant microlensing planet detected through a signal deformed due to source binarity
    (EDP Sciences, France, 2023-10) Han C; Zang W; Jung YK; Bond IA; Chung S-J; Albrow MD; Gould A; Hwang K-H; Ryu Y-H; Shin I-G; Shvartzvald Y; Yang H; Yee JC; Cha S-M; Kim D; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee C-U; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Monard B; Qian Q; Liu Z; Maoz D; Penny MT; Zhu W; Abe F; Barry R; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hamada R; Hirao Y; Ishitani Silva S; Itow Y; Kirikawa R; Kondo I; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Tomoyoshi M; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H; Yamashita K
    Aims. We investigate the previous microlensing data collected by the KMTNet survey in search of anomalous events for which no precise interpretations of the anomalies had been suggested. From this investigation, we find that the anomaly in the lensing light curve of the event KMT-2021-BLG-1547 is approximately described by a binary-lens (2L1S) model with a lens possessing a giant planet, but the model leaves unexplained residuals. Methods. We investigated the origin of the residuals by testing more sophisticated models that include either an extra lens component (3L1S model) or an extra source star (2L2S model) on top of the 2L1S configuration of the lens system. From these analyses, we find that the residuals from the 2L1S model originate from the existence of a faint companion to the source. The 2L2S solution substantially reduces the residuals and improves the model fit by δ x 2 = 67.1 with respect to the 2L1S solution. The 3L1S solution also improves the fit, but its fit is worse than that of the 2L2S solution by δ x 2 = 24.7. Results. According to the 2L2S solution, the lens of the event is a planetary system with planet and host masses (Mp/MJ, Mh/M·) = (1.47-0.77+0.64, 0.72-0.38+0.32) lying at a distance DL = 5.07-1.50+0.98 kpc, and the source is a binary composed of a subgiant primary of a late G or an early K spectral type and a main-sequence companion of a K spectral type. The event demonstrates the need for sophisticated modeling of unexplained anomalies if one wants to construct a complete microlensing planet sample.
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    KMT-2023-BLG-1866Lb: Microlensing super-Earth around an M dwarf host
    (EDP Sciences for The European Southern Observatory, 2024-07) Han C; Bond IA; Udalski A; Lee C-U; Gould A; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Hwang K-H; Jung YK; Ryu Y-H; Shvartzvald Y; Shin I-G; Yee JC; Yang H; Zang W; Cha S-M; Kim D; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Abe F; Bando K; Barry R; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hamada R; Hamada S; Hamasaki N; Hirao Y; Ishitani Silva S; Itow Y; Kirikawa R; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Nagai T; Nunota K; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Tomoyoshi M; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H; Yamashita K; Mróz P; Szymański MK; Skowron J; Poleski RA; Soszyński I; Pietrukowicz P; Kozłowski S; Rybicki KA; Iwanek P; Ulaczyk K; Wrona M; Gromadzki M; Mróz MJ
    Aims. We aim to investigate the nature of the short-term anomaly that appears in the lensing light curve of KMT-2023-BLG-1866. The anomaly was only partly covered due to its short duration of less than a day, coupled with cloudy weather conditions and a restricted nighttime duration. Methods. Considering the intricacy of interpreting partially covered signals, we thoroughly explored all potential degenerate solutions. Through this process, we identified three planetary scenarios that account for the observed anomaly equally well. These scenarios are characterized by the specific planetary parameters: (s, q)inner = [0.9740 ± 0.0083, (2.46 ± 1.07) × 10-5], (s, q)intermediate = [0.9779 ± 0.0017, (1.56 ± 0.25) × 10-5], and (s, q)outer = [0.9894 ± 0.0107, (2.31 ± 1.29) × 10-5], where s and q denote the projected separation (scaled to the Einstein radius) and mass ratio between the planet and its host, respectively. We identify that the ambiguity between the inner and outer solutions stems from the inner-outer degeneracy, while the similarity between the intermediate solution and the others is due to an accidental degeneracy caused by incomplete anomaly coverage. Results. Through Bayesian analysis utilizing the constraints derived from measured lensing observables and blending flux, our estimation indicates that the lens system comprises a very-low-mass planet orbiting an early M-type star situated approximately (6.2-6.5) kpc from Earth in terms of median posterior values for the different solutions. The median mass of the planet host is in the range of (0.48-0.51) M⊙, and that of the planet's mass spans a range of (2.6-4.0) ME, varying across different solutions. The detection of KMT-2023-BLG-1866Lb signifies the extension of the lensing surveys to very-low-mass planets that have been difficult to detect in earlier surveys.
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    Three sub-Jovian-mass microlensing planets: MOA-2022-BLG-563Lb, KMT-2023-BLG-0469Lb, and KMT-2023-BLG-0735Lb
    (The European Southern Observatory (ESO) for EDP Sciences, 2024-03-12) Han C; Jung YK; Bond IA; Gould A; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Hwang K-H; Lee C-U; Ryu Y-H; Shin I-G; Shvartzvald Y; Yang H; Yee JC; Zang W; Cha S-M; Kim D; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Abe F; Barry R; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hamada R; Hirao Y; Silva SI; Itow Y; Kirikawa R; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Tomoyoshi M; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H; Yamashita K
    Aims. We analyze the anomalies appearing in the light curves of the three microlensing events MOA-2022-BLG-563, KMT-2023BLG-0469, and KMT-2023-BLG-0735. The anomalies exhibit common short-term dip features that appear near the peak. Methods. From the detailed analyses of the light curves, we find that the anomalies were produced by planets accompanied by the lenses of the events. For all three events, the estimated mass ratios between the planet and host are on the order of 10−4: q ∼ 8 × 10−4 for MOA-2022-BLG-563L, q ∼ 2.5 × 10−4 for KMT-2023-BLG-0469L, and q ∼ 1.9 × 10−4 for KMT-2023-BLG-0735L. The interpretations of the anomalies are subject to a common inner-outer degeneracy, which causes ambiguity when estimating the projected planet-host separation. Results. We estimated the planet mass, Mp, host mass, Mh, and distance, DL, to the planetary system by conducting Bayesian analyses using the observables of the events. The estimated physical parameters of the planetary systems are (Mh/M, Mp/MJ, DL/kpc) = (0.48+−00.3630, 0.40+−00.3125, 6.53+−11.1257) for MOA-2022-BLG-563L, (0.47+−00.3526, 0.124+−00.092067, 7.07−+11.1903) for KMT-2023-BLG-0469L, and (0.62+−00.3435, 0.125+−00.068070, 6.26+−11.2767) for KMT-2023-BLG-0735L. According to the estimated parameters, all planets are cold planets with projected separations that are greater than the snow lines of the planetary systems, they have masses that lie between the masses of Uranus and Jupiter of the Solar System, and the hosts of the planets are main-sequence stars that are less massive than the Sun. In all cases, the planetary systems are more likely to be in the bulge with probabilities Pbulge = 64%, 73%, and 56% for MOA-2022-BLG-563, KMT-2023-BLG-0469, and KMT-2023-BLG-0735, respectively.
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    KMT-2021-BLG-1077L: The fifth confirmed multiplanetary system detected by microlensing
    (EDP Sciences on behalf of the European Southern Observatory, 2022-06-20) Han C; Gould A; Bond IA; Jung YK; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Hwang K-H; Ryu Y-H; Shin I-G; Shvartzvald Y; Yee JC; Zang W; Cha S-M; Kim D-J; Kim S-L; Lee C-U; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Kim D; Abe F; Barry RK; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hirao Y; Itow Y; Kirikawa R; Koshimoto N; Kondo I; Matsubara Y; Matsumoto S; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Olmschenk G; Okamura A; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Silva SI; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Toda T; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H
    Aims. The high-magnification microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-1077 exhibits a subtle and complex anomaly pattern in the region around the peak. We analyze the lensing light curve of the event with the aim of revealing the nature of the anomaly. Methods. We test various models in combination with several interpretations: that the lens is a binary (2L1S), the source is a binary (1L2S), both the lens and source are binaries (2L2S), or the lens is a triple system (3L1S). We search for the best-fit models under the individual interpretations of the lens and source systems. Results. We find that the anomaly cannot be explained by the usual three-body (2L1S and 1L2S) models. The 2L2S model improves the fit compared to the three-body models, but it still leaves noticeable residuals. On the other hand, the 3L1S interpretation yields a model explaining all the major anomalous features in the lensing light curve. According to the 3L1S interpretation, the estimated mass ratios of the lens companions to the primary are ~1.56 A - 10a- 3 and ~1.75 A - 10a- 3, which correspond to ~1.6 and ~1.8 times the Jupiter/Sun mass ratio, respectively, and therefore the lens is a multiplanetary system containing two giant planets. With the constraints of the event time-scale and angular Einstein radius, it is found that the host of the lens system is a low-mass star of mid-to-late M spectral type with amass of Mh = 0.14a- 0.07+0.19 MI, and it hosts two gas giant planets with masses of Mp1 = 0.22a- 0.12+0.31 MJ and Mp2 = 0.25a- 0.13+0.35. The planets lie beyond the snow line of the host with projected separations of aap1 = 1.26a- 1.08+1.41 AU and aap2 = 0.93a- 0.80+1.05 AU. The planetary system resides in the Galactic bulge at a distance of DL = 8.24a- 1.16+1.02 kpc. The lens of the event is the fifth confirmed multiplanetary system detected by microlensing following OGLE-2006-BLG-109L, OGLE-2012-BLG-0026L, OGLE-2018-BLG-1011L, and OGLE-2019-BLG-0468L.
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    Systematic KMTNet planetary anomaly search: V. Complete sample of 2018 prime-field
    (EDP Sciences, 2022-08-08) Gould A; Han C; Zang W; Yang H; Hwang K-H; Udalski A; Bond IA; Albrow MD; Chung S-J; Jung YK; Ryu Y-H; Shin I-G; Shvartzvald Y; Yee JC; Cha S-M; Kim D-J; Kim H-W; Kim S-L; Lee C-U; Lee D-J; Lee Y; Park B-G; Pogge RW; Mróz P; Szymanski MK; Skowron J; Poleski R; Soszyński I; Pietrukowicz P; Kozłowski S; Ulaczyk K; Rybicki KA; Iwanek P; Wrona M; Abe F; Barry R; Bennett DP; Bhattacharya A; Fujii H; Fukui A; Hirao Y; Silva SI; Kirikawa R; Kondo I; Koshimoto N; Matsubara Y; Matsumoto S; Miyazaki S; Muraki Y; Okamura A; Olmschenk G; Ranc C; Rattenbury NJ; Satoh Y; Sumi T; Suzuki D; Toda T; Tristram PJ; Vandorou A; Yama H; Beichman C; Bryden G; Novati SC; Gaudi BS; Henderson CB; Penny MT; Jacklin S; Stassun KG
    We complete the analysis of all 2018 prime-field microlensing planets identified by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) Anomaly Finder. Among the ten previously unpublished events with clear planetary solutions, eight are either unambiguously planetary or are very likely to be planetary in nature: OGLE-2018-BLG-1126, KMT-2018-BLG-2004, OGLE-2018-BLG-1647, OGLE-2018-BLG-1367, OGLE-2018-BLG-1544, OGLE-2018-BLG-0932, OGLE-2018-BLG-1212, and KMT-2018-BLG-2718. Combined with the four previously published new Anomaly Finder events and 12 previously published (or in preparation) planets that were discovered by eye, this makes a total of 24 2018 prime-field planets discovered or recovered by Anomaly Finder. Together with a paper in preparation on 2018 subprime planets, this work lays the basis for the first statistical analysis of the planet mass-ratio function based on planets identified in KMTNet data. By systematically applying the heuristic analysis to each event, we identified the small modification in their formalism that is needed to unify the so-called close-wide and inner-outer degeneracies.